Owners of Xiaomi smartphones often face a situation when the device begins to work unstable after installing a new program. The screen goes out, intrusive banner ads appear or the system completely stops responding to commands. In such cases, Safe Mode comes to the rescue, which allows you to run the Android operating system without third-party software.
On the MIUI 12 shell, this diagnostic tool works particularly well, allowing you to quickly identify the culprit of the failure. If your Xiaomi is getting stuck or acting inappropriately, don't rush to bring it to the service center or do a complete data reset. Often the problem lies in one particular application that can be simply removed.
Running a system in diagnostic mode is the first step experienced users take in any software failure, which does not delete your personal files, photos or contacts, but only temporarily blocks the launch of all applications that are not included in the basic equipment of the smartphone, and understanding how to activate this feature will save you time and nerves at a critical moment.
What is Safe Mode and Why You Need It on MIUI 12
Safe Mode is a special diagnostic state of the Android operating system that only downloads system components and basic Google services. all third-party apps you downloaded from the Play Market or installed through the Play Market. APK-This allows you to determine whether a particular program is causing problems or whether the malfunction is deeper, in the system itself or in the hardware.
On the MIUI 12 shell, this tool is especially relevant, as it has many background processes and optimization services. If you install a memory cleaner, antivirus or Internet accelerator from an unknown developer, they can conflict with native Xiaomi features. In normal mode, the phone may just hang on the logo, but in Safe Mode it will run, and you can remove malicious software.
And it's also useful for checking the stability of the sensor and the display, and if the screen is buggy in normal mode and everything is working perfectly in safe mode, then the problem is exactly in third-party software, it can be a weather widget, a live wallpaper or an interface change app, and diagnostics helps to separate software bugs from physical damage.
It's important to understand that turning on this mode isn't a panacea for all troubles, but it's a powerful primary diagnostic tool that allows users to access the file system and settings even when the device is locked in normal mode seconds after turning on. For Xiaomi owners, it's often the only way to save data before flashing.
Preparation of the smartphone for diagnostic launch
Before you go into action, you need to properly prepare the device. Negligence at this stage can cause the phone to go into a reboot cycle or you accidentally delete the wrong application. First of all, make sure that the battery is at least 40-50%. The process of booting the system, even in safe mode, consumes energy, and if the phone turns off in the middle, it can damage the system files.
It is also strongly recommended to disable all connected USB-cables and accessories. If you have a headset, mouse or keyboard connected to your smartphone through OTG, They can interfere with the startup process. In some cases, the buttons on the headset are perceived by the system as a command to enter Recovery mode, rather than safe mode.
☑️ Xiaomi Preparing for Safe Mode
If you have password or pattern lock protection enabled, make sure you remember the combination.In safe mode, password entry may work differently, and if blocked, you will not be able to use biometrics (fingerprint or face), as these services are often disabled. In safe mode, biometric unlocking on MIUI 12 often doesn't work, so knowledge PIN-The code or pattern lock is critically important.
⚠️ Note: If your phone is already in a bootloop state (infinitely rebooted on the logo), menu preparation is not possible. In this case, you need to use the physical button method described below and act quickly while you download.
Method 1: Classic login via the off menu
The easiest and safest way to turn Safe Mode on Xiaomi MIUI 12 is to use the standard shutdown menu, which is suitable for cases where the phone is turned on, working, but you want to prevent or remove the problem application.
To start, press and hold the Power button on the side of the device. The menu will appear on the screen with options: "Switch off", "Reset" and sometimes "Flight mode". You need to select the option to turn off. However, do not release your finger immediately after pressing. Hold your finger on the "Switch off" icon for 2-3 seconds.
After that, a pop-up will appear on the screen asking about the transition to Safe Mode. The system will ask, "Go to Safe Mode?" The message will indicate that all third-party applications will be disabled. Press OK or Confirm. The smartphone will start rebooting, and you will see the MI logo, and then the Android logo.
- 📱 Press and hold the power button to call the menu.
- 🛑 Touch and keep your finger on the "Switch off" icon for a long time".
- ✅ In the window that appears, confirm the transition to Safe Mode.
- 🔄 Wait for the system to load fully.
Once you download, you'll see "Safe Mode" or "Safe Mode" in one of the lower corners of the screen. The interface may look a little bit strange: some icons may disappear and the background becomes standard. This is normal behavior of MIUI 12. Now you can safely uninstall applications or run tests.
What to do if the menu does not appear?
Method 2: Launch through physical buttons (for locked devices)
If the smartphone freezes so much that you can't get into the off menu, or if the touch screen is partially down, the physical button method comes to the rescue. This is more versatile and works on most Android devices, including Xiaomi with the MIUI 12 shell.
First, you need to turn the device off completely. If the phone doesn't respond to touch, press the Power button and hold it for about 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the device vibrates, signaling that the phone is off. After the phone is completely out, wait a few seconds.
Now press the power button to turn it on. MI Or Android, press the Volume Down button quickly, hold it until it's finished downloading and the desktop appears. MIUI Both volume buttons are required, but most often only Volume Down is enough.
| Action. | Button | Duration | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutdown | Power | 10-15 sec. | Total shutdown |
| Inclusion | Power | Before the logo. | Start of loading |
| Activation of Safe Mode | Volume Down | Before the table is loaded | Entry into diagnostic regimen |
This method requires some skill, because you need to accurately capture the moment the logo appears. If the first time failed and the phone booted in normal mode, repeat the procedure. The main thing is not to release the volume button too early. At Xiaomi, this method often helps when a software failure blocks the touchscreen.
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If you are in the Recovery menu when you download with the volume button clamped, you have pressed the buttons too early or used the Recovery combination. Try to select "Reboot" and try again, pressing the button a little later.
How to Remove Problem Apps in Safe Mode
Once you've successfully entered Safe Mode, your main task is to find and neutralize the source of the problem. Since all third-party apps are disabled, the phone should work steadily. First of all, analyze which apps you've recently installed. Often the culprits are flashlights, QR scanners, games with dubious reputations or modified versions of popular programs.
Go to the Settings menu and select the Apps section, and select "All Apps" from the list, look for programs you don't remember or have recently installed, and look for apps without an icon or with a transparent icon, which is a frequent sign of miner viruses or adware.
- 🔍 Open the settings and go to the "Applications" section".
- 🗑️ Find a suspicious program in the list.
- 🚫 Click "Delete" and confirm the action.
- 🔄 If the delete button is inactive, first click "Stop".
In some cases, a malicious application may have device administrator rights, which prevents it from being removed. To check, go to Settings → Passwords and Security → Privacy → Special Access → Device administrator applications. If you see an unknown program there, disable the permissions, and only then delete it in the usual way.
⚠️ Note: Do not remove Google or Xiaomi system applications that you do not know the names of (for example, Google or Xiaomi, "MIUI Daemon, "Google Play Services").Removing system components can cause a phone to fail even after a reboot.
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Removing a problem app in Safe Mode is a temporary solution. Once you exit Safe Mode and return to normal mode, the app won’t reappear because its files have been erased from the device.
How to get out of Safe Mode on Xiaomi
Once you have removed the culprit of the unstable work, you need to return to normal mode. exit from Safe Mode to Xiaomi MIUI 12 usually occurs automatically with a simple reboot of the device, you do not need to look for special settings or perform complex manipulations with the buttons.
Just press the Power button and select Reboot. If the menu doesn't appear due to the launcher's features, hold the power button for about 10 seconds before vibration. The phone will turn off and turn on again. The main condition is not to pinch any volume buttons when you turn on. If you hold the button, the phone will again think that you want to enter diagnostic mode.
After downloading, check the bottom corner of the screen. The Safe Mode label should disappear. All your apps, widgets, and settings will return to their places. Check your phone: if the problem (advertising, hanging) has disappeared, you have successfully identified and removed the malicious code.
In rare cases, the phone can get stuck in safe mode and boot into it all the time.This could mean that the volume button is physically stuck or damaged (closed) and the system thinks you're holding it at all times when you start. Check the button mechanics. If the buttons are intact, try sending the ADB: adb reboot command through your computer.
adb rebootThis command will force the device to restart normally, ignoring the state of the buttons. This will require a connected PC, installed ADB drivers and enabled USB debugging (if it was activated earlier).
Possible problems and solutions
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, Xiaomi users may face a number of difficulties, such as the phone can turn off immediately after the logo appears, even in safe mode. This often indicates a deep damage to system files or a critical lack of free memory, in which case deletion of applications is impossible, and you will need a full reset (Wipe Data) through the Recovery menu.
Another common problem is the lack of touch response in Safe Mode. MIUI 12 touchscreen drivers may not work properly in diagnostic mode. If the screen is not responding, try plugging in. USB-mouse-over OTG. This will allow you to control the cursor and get to the settings for removing applications.
- ❌ Phone does not leave Safe Mode: check the volume button for the circuit.
- 📉 Low performance: Acceleration disabled in Safe Mode GPU, It's okay.
- 📶 No internet: check Wi-Fi settings, some drivers may not load.
- 📸 The camera does not work: a systemic restriction of the diagnostic mode.
Also worth mentioning is that the features associated with Mi Account and cloud sync don't work in Safe Mode. Don't be alarmed if the gallery shows empty albums or messages don't load. This is a temporary limitation. Once you reboot to normal mode, all Xiaomi and Google services will resume.